Planer and thickness indicating attachment therefor



N 1952 J. 5. BALLANTINE PLANER AND THICKNESS INDICATING ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed Nov. 29, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEE 1952 J. s. BALLANTINE I PLANER AND THICKNESS INDICATING ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 29, 1948 2 Sl-IEETS--$HEET 2 the desired cut thickness dimension, right on the desired cut thickness dimension, and slightly below the desired cut thickness dimension.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a planer having machine members including a cutter member and a work supporting table mounted for relative movement to vary cut thickness, cut thickness indicating means, and selective actuating means operated by the movable one of said machine members through out thickness varying movement thereof to actuate the indicating means as soon as a. predetermined cut thickness has been reached.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a visual indicating means for a planer comprising a series of lights which may be controlled to indicate when the planer is adjusted to give a desired thickness dimension and a selected thickness dimension above and below the desired thickness dimension.

These and other like objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and annexed specification illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of the invention. 7

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a planer with portions thereof broken away showing the indicating attachment of the present invention mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the micro-switch mounting member;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view partly in section of the micro-switch with the side removed;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the stop carrying members; and,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical hook-up.

The indicating attachment according to the invention is capable of use with any of the well known types of planing machines in commercial use and for purpose of illustration and description is shown as applied to a planer IO having a movable work supporting table II and a rotary cutter head I2. The cutter head I2 is mounted in suitable bearings carried by the side frame members of the planer and is provided with cutters l3 adapted to plane the work in a well known manner.

The work supporting table I I is slidably mounted on guides I4 and I5 carried by the side frames of the planer I!) and is moved upwardly and downwardly by a pair of screws I6 positioned on opposite sides thereof and centrally located between the front and rear guides I4 and I5. The screws I6 are screw-threadedly engaged with flanges I1 depending from opposite sides of the table II and are suitably supported and journalled adjacent their lower ends by bearings I8. Bevel gears I9 are keyed to the lower ends of screws I6 and mesh with bevel gears on a countershaft 2|. Countershaft 2| is rotated by a shaft 22 having a bevel gear 23 thereon adapted to mesh with one of the gears 20 or with a separate gear (notshown) mounted on the shaft 2I. Shaft 22 projects outwardly through the front of the planer casing and carries a hand wheel 24 provided with a handle 25.

It will be apparent from the description thus far that the table II may be adjustably positioned relative to the cutter head I2 by rotating the hand wheel 24 in the proper direction. This operates through th system of gears and shafts above described to rotate the screws l6 and thus raise or lower the table H in accordance with the direction of rotation of the hand wheel 24. When properly adjusted to take a predetermined cut from a plank or the like such plank is placed on th planing table II and pushed therealong under the cutting head I2 in a well known manner. As the plank moves through the machine the cutters I3 of the cutter head I2 remove a thickness of material predetermined by the particular adjustment of the table II with respect to the cutter head I2.

In order to provide some visual indication of the distance between the table II and the cutter head l2 and thus enable the operator to determine the approximate cut thickness dimension obtainable for a particular setting of the machine the table II is desirably provided with a pointer 26 (Fig. 3) adapted to travel over a calibrated scale 2'! and to indicate thereon the approximate distance in inches between the table II and the cutter head I2. Thus when it is desired to cut a plank to a predetermined approximate thickness dimension the scale 21 and pointer 26 may be used to set the machine to take off successive increments of material until the approximate desired thickness is obtained at which time the indicating means according to the present invention may be used in making the final adjustment for obtaining a finished product having the correct desired cut thickness dimension.

Such indicating means has actuating mechanism preferably comprising an adjustable stop carrying member 30 and a movable micro-switch mounting member 3|. The micro-switch mounting member 3| is connected to the table II by a chain or the like 32 which travels over sprockets 33 and 34 mounted on shafts 35 and 36 secured to a side frame member 31 of the planer. Thus as the table I I is moved upwardly or downwardly to vary the cut thickness the member 3| moves upwardly or downwardly a corresponding distance but in the opposite direction and has a limit of travel which is the same as the limit of travel f the table II.

An important feature of the present invention resides in locating the point of connection between the chain 32 and table II midway between the guide bearings I4 and I5 and in the vertical plane which passes through the axis of the cutter head I2 and the screws It. This insures maximum accuracy in translating the movement of the table II to the member 3| since the possibility of errors which might be introduced because of looseness and possible tilting of the table II in the guides III and I5 is substantially eliminated. Although th chain and sprockets shown and described are the preferred means for connecting the table II and member 3|, other means of a like nature such as cable and pulleys and the like may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

The micro-switch mounting member 3| comprises a base portion 38 preferably cylindrical in form and having an opening 39 extending therethrough for slidably receiving the rod 40. The rod 40 is mounted in a bearing 40a attached to a removable front panel section 54 and acts as a guide for the member 3| during vertical movement thereof and. is preferably non-circus me Ja n ss-s c i a ha or exam l s uare r o ansular, tor c ope ati n with the correpondinsly s aped ope n 3.9 terrorism 4' aio of thefmerehor 31:- e pening desi ne to havoc nu sli i lit w th he rod 40. to minimi e. re ative n ular "moyernent oi he m mber and ro 4 a d is looa odsomowhat off center to ba ance h pull of th cha n desired mat r al such m a or th like but is required to be heavy. enough to trip the microswitches 4!, s2 nd 4 mou ted on ho hottom thereof as will appear more clearly hereinafter The micro-switches 4|, 42 and 43 are preferably mounted on the base portiqn 3;; in equian ularl spac d la i sho n in Fig- 4 and are ada d to be lo ed wh n t e ung r M t nd 6 t r com cont ct with the top mem rs 1, t8 nd 49 ar i d b the adjus able stop ca ry memb r .30 and adjust d t stepped relation to close the switches successively. Each of the micro-switches 41, 52 and 43 is gennected in series with a source of elect 9 power 50 and suitable signal or indicating devices such as lights 5|, 52 and ,53 as shown in Fig, 7. The l h 51, 5 d 5.3 are moun e in e removable panel section 54 which is suitably secured over an aperture in the front of the planer casing as shown in Fig. 3 and as the micro-switches ll, 32 and 43 are closed by contact of their plungers M, ,85 and 46 with the stop members n, as and 49 the lights 51, 52 and s3 glow to indicate to the operator that the machine is [set for a predetermined cut thickness dimension. Although electrically Operated lights are shown for purposes of hexemplification and are preferred, any suitable signal or indicating means which will inform the operator that the machine is adjusted for a predetermined out thickness dimension may be used Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In order that the operator may tell at a glance whether the machine is accurately set on a desired cut thickness dimension or is set slightly above or slightly below the desired cut thickness dimension the lights 5| 52 and 53 are designed to be turned on successively as the table I I moves up to and beyond the desired cut thickness dimension. Thus when the table H is adjusted for a cut thickness dimension slightly above, for example, 0.005 inch above the desired cut thickness dimension, the light 5|, which may desirably be .a white light, is turned on. When the table II is adjusted right on the desired .cut thickness dimension the light 52, which is preferably green, will also be turned on so that in this position both the white and green lights will be burning.

When the table II is adjusted for a cut thick: ness dimension slightly below, for .example,"0.005 inch below the desired cut thickness dimension, the light 53, which is preferably red, will also be turned on so that all three lights will be burning.

This successive turning on of the lights El, 52 and 53 may be accomplished by havi g the contact surfaces of the stops 4], 4B and 9 at graduated distances from the base of the stop carrying member 3! Thus the stop 67 may extend upwardly the greatest distance and actuatethe plunger 45 of the switch ll before the plungers .45 and 46 of the switches .42 and 53 contact their respective stop members. The stop -48 may extend upwardly a distance somewhat less -thanthe stop 41 so as not to contact the plunger .45 of switch 42 until the member The base portion 33 ma be made o m ved ownwirdlya distance equal to th di er to in he gh betwe n th stops .41 nd 4. The stop 4 :9 ma h the shorte t of, the thre andwih notcontaotthe plun e so. of Switch 3' unti the memb .3! moved downwa ly heiresui od di tance Ea h of the stop 41, 4t and 4. is adiustably mounted in h mom- 39 s that thei elat ve h ights be varie s d i ed o chan e th oint o actuati n o the p n ers g 5 and d5 the r o s n s switch Thu b nrooor ad ustment f the stop rs ,1 48 and ifi'the l h s 5!, 5, n 53 a be made to. indicate a elec ed o thickness adjustment of the. machine, and gut t ckn a ju tment above nd b l w he seoted u thickn s adi stm n by any am unt within the limits of @djustability of the stops.

Although it is desirable to have the micro.- switches mounted so that the lower tips. of th? plungers lie in the. same horizontal plane this is not absolutely necessary since minor variations may be compensated for by proper adjustment of the stop members 47, 45 and 4,9. portant, however, that the microeswitches quickly snap to closed circuit position upon a predetermined slight movement of the plungers d4, 45 and 46 and that the plungers have the necessary overtravel to permit the switches to be success sively closed and maintained in closed position while the member H is moving downwardly. This is accomplished by the micro-switch and plunger mechanism shown more particularly in Fig, 5.

The micro-switch mechanism comprises a housing 55 of Bakelite or the like having terminals 56 and 51 for connecting the switch in series with a source of electric power 5.0 and one of the signal or indicating devices 5!, 52 or 5,3, as pointed out hereinbefore. The terminal 51 is connected to a flat metallic conducting member 58 mounted on a support in the housing 55 and having spaced spring fingers 5,9 and 60 joined together at their extended ends and carrying a contact 6|. In normal open position of the switch the spring fingers 59 and 6X0 maintain the contact 6| againsta stop member 62;. In closed position the contact 61 rests against a conducting member 63 connected to the terminal 56 thus completing a circuit through the terminal 51, member 58, spring fingers 59 and .60, contact 6i, and member 62 to terminal 5,6. A switch actuating plunger 04 is sidably mounted in the housing 55 and has a portion in contact with the spring finger 60v and a portion 65 projecting from the housing 55 and adapted to be contacted by the plunger mechanism referred to above. When the plunger 64 is moved inwardly a predetermined small distance the spring fingers 59 and 6.0 sud: denly snap the contact 6| into engagement w th the conducting member 63 to close the switch actuate the signal or indicating device.

The plunger mechanism comprises a sleeve 10 secured to the housing 55 and slidably receive ing the plunger 44. Plunger s4 is retained the sleeve 10 by a flange abutting against a shoulder on the plunger and has a piston 1,3 slidably mounted therein and urged against an inturned flange 14 thereon by a spring 15. The piston 13 has. a reduced portion 16 thereon ex-v tending through the flange 14 into vcontactw-ith the projecting portion 66 of the plunger 6.4. The spring 15 is designed to maintain the piston 73 against the flange 14 until the plunger 44 has moved inwardly suff ciently to trip the switch to closed circuit position. Further pressure on the P ung 44 ove ome t e resi tanc o the spring 15 so that the plunger 44 moves inwardly to compress the spring 15 against the piston 13. The extent of such movement of the plunger 44 after the switch is closed is sufiicient to permit successive closing of the other switches.

Any form of micro-switch which will accomplish the results as above set forth may be used for the purposes of the present invention. One type which has proved quite satisfactory is the BZ-2RQ1 manufactured by the Micro Switch Corporation of Freeport, Illinois. Other types of a similar nature may also be used.

The stop carrying member 30 is mounted on the lower end of the rod 40 and is adjustable over a vertical distance equal to the travel of the table I I and micro-switch mounting member 3|. By suitable adjustment of the member 30 the stops 4?, 48 and 49 may be positioned to actuate the switches 4|, 42 and 43 and the indicating means 5!, 52 and 53 at any desired point in the path of travel of the table II to thereby indicate that the table is positioned to obtain a particular cut thickness dimension and/or a cut thickness dimension slightly above or below that particular cut thickness dimension.

The member 30 is adjustably positioned by raising and lowering the rod 4!! in its guide 40a. For this purpose the rod 40 is provided with rack teeth 19 adapted to mesh with a pinion F8 on the shaft 89. Shaft 89 extends outwardly through the panel section 54 and has a dial member 8@ keyed thereto for rotating the shaft 89 and pinion 78 to vertically position the rod 4!] and member 39. The dial member 80 is locked in a selected angular position by a ring member 8| secured to the panel section 54 and having teeth 82 on its outer face adapted to interlock with corresponding teeth 83 on the inner face of the dial member. The dial member 80 is normally held in locked engagement with the ring member 8| by a spring 84 mounted on the shaft 89 between the pinion l8 and the front panel section 54. The dial member 8! may be set in a desired position by pulling it outwardly against the action of the spring 84 and then rotating it. The pinion 18, of course, is sufficiently wider than the rack teeth 19 to permit this to be done while still retaining the pinion in mesh with the rack teeth.

To enable the operator to set the stop carrying member 30 for a desired cut thickness dimension the dial member 80 is provided with a scale for cooperation with a pointer 86 attached to the panel section 54. The scale is graduated in inches and fractions thereof and may be calibrated by positioning the member 39 at various points along its path of travel, adjusting the table ll until the lights 5|, 52 come on and then marking the dial opposite the pointer 86 to indicate the cut thickness dimension thus obtained. When several such points are obtained the spaces between may then be divided into any number of smaller divisions as required.

In the operation of the improved planer device of this invention the table II is first adjusted to receive the work in accordance with usual practice. The dial member 80 is then set so that the scale graduation corresponding to the desired cut thickness dimension is positioned opposite the pointer 86. The operator then passes the work through the machine the number of times required to reduce it to the desired thickness adjusting the machine between each pass to make the usual out. When the adjustment of the machine is such that the resulting cut thickness dimension will be slightly above that for which the dial is set, for example, from a few thousandths to several thousandths of an inch above depending on the relative positions of the stops 41, 48 and 49, the white light will go on to warn the operator. He then adjusts the table until the green light comes on. This indicates that the planer is adjusted to give the cut thickness dimension for which the dial is set. If the red light goes on this indicates that the adjustment of the machine will give a cut thickness dimension slightly below, for example, a few thousandths below that for which the dial is set.

Where the work requires a number of passes through the machine it is frequently desirable to use the old type of indicator means such as the pointer and scale hereinbefore described to obtain an approximate final cut thickness dimension and then to use the device of the present invention to obtain an accurate final cut thickness dimension. In this case the operation is substantially the same as before, the pointer and scale indicating means being used for the machine adustments required to reduce the cut thickness dimension of the work to an approximate final cut thickness dimension somewhat above that desired.

While the various parts of the device may desirably be mounted almost entirely on a removable panel section suitably attached to the planer casing it is likewise possible, and sometimes desirable, to mount the parts directly on the casing and/or the frame of the machine. In either case the device may be built into the machine during the manufacture thereof or supplied as an attachment for application thereto after manufacture.

Although the device has been illustrated and described in connection with the use of three signals or indicators it is, of course, possible to use more or less than this number. Thus, for example, if it is desired to indicate only the final desired cut thickness adjustment one signal or indicator may be used and properly set to give the desired indication. Also, as pointed out hereinbefore, any suitable signal or indicating means adaptable to be operated to indicate the desired cut thickness dimension may be utilized for the purposes of the present invention. Electrically operated lights have been found to 0perate very satisfactorily and are preferred.

The expressions cut thickness and cut thickness dimension as used in the specification and claims are intended to mean the thickness of a piece of work resulting from a cutting operating for a particular adjustment of the planer.

Various modifications of the invention described and illustrated will most likely occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is indicated in the attached claims.

I claim:

1. In a planer including a rotary cutter memher and a work supporting table mounted for movement relative to the cutter member to vary cut thickness, three electric signals indicating respectively, minus, correct and plus as to a predetermined planer cut thickness, an electric circuit for the signals including separate electric switches for separately energizing each signal, actuating means operated by the work supporting table in its out thickness varying movement to cause estuar es Io'f said switches successively in accordance "with the s bsmon of the work supporting table Intimateaipreaetermmea out thickness, a manually adjustable cut thickness selector coactive with a I out "thickness calibrated seale -adapted to adjustthe switch closing operation of the switches by the actuating means relative to thework supporting table for different predetermined cut thicknesses and further manual means;forsimultaneously adjusting the work supporting table and said actuating means to effect successive actuation of at least two of said switches uponsaid work supporting table bein brought to any out thickness conforming tothe cut thickness settin' 'of the scale.

-2i A planer according to claim 1,,wherein the actuating -mecha-nism ,for the electrical signals ,has operative connection with the work supporting table at;-a point i-n a, plane common to the axis of the rotary cutter and the path of out thickness varying movement of the work supporting table.

3. In a planer including a rotary cutter memher and a work supporting table mounted for movement relative to the cutter member to vary cut thickness, three electric signals indicating respectivelyminus, correct and plus as to a predetermined planer cut thickness, an electric circuit for the signals including separate electrical switches for independently energizing each signal, a movable supporting member therefor, an operating linkage connecting said supporting member to the work supporting table for movementby the 'worksupportin table in its out thickness varying movement to 'eiiect actuation of said switches successively in accordance to the position of the work table relative to one predetermined cut thickness, actuating means including three switch closing elements in stepped relation to each other, a rod mounting said switch closing elements, a mounting supporting said rod for lengthwise movement to adjust the position of the switch closing elements relative to the switches for operation thereof in accordance with different predetermined cut thicknesses, the supporting member for the switches having guide surfaces engageable with the mountin rod for said switch closing elements and mounting said supporting member for sliding movement relative to said rod and adapted to maintain the switches and switch 'CIOSiIlg elements in alignment, a manually adjustable cut thickness selector having a cut thickness calibrated scale, and operatively connected to the rod for switch adjusting movement thereof.

4. A cut thickness indicatin attachment for planers of the type having a cutter and a work supporting table mounted for relative movement to vary the cut thickness and comprising predetermined planer cut thickness indicating means, selective actuating means for effecting actuation of the indicating means at a predetermined planer cut thickness, means for interconnecting the actuating means and the movable one of the cutter and work supporting table of a planer for operation thereby during J adjustment thereof to a predetermined cut thickness and manual adjusting means coactive with a planer cut thickness calibrated scale for changing actuation of the indicating means by the actuating means from one to another planer cut thickness.

5. A cut thickness indicating attachment for planers of the type having a cutter and a work supporting table" mounted for relative movement to vary out t ickness and comprising a predetermined cut thickness electric signal, an electric circuit for the signal including an electric switch for energizing the signal switch actuating means including connecting means adapted to operatively connect the actuating vmeans to the movable one of the cutter and the closing operation of the signal switch by said Ill actuating means "relative. to the movable one of the cutter and work supporting table of a planer for different predetermined cut thicknesses.

6. A cut thickness indicating attachment for planers of the type having a cutter and a work supporting table mounted for relative movement to vary out thickness and comp-rising a predetermine'd cut"thicknesselectric signal, an electric circuitflfor l'saidsignal, signal operating means including a signal energizing switch in said circuit and a switch closing actuator, a movably mounted positionadiustin rember mounting one of said signal operating means for ad- ,iustment'rlative to the other or said operating means, connecting means adapted to operatively connect thejothe'r of said signal operaing n -eans to the movable one of the cutter and work supporting table offs. planer. for operation in response to mov'ement oi said movable lan r member to a predetermined cut 'hickness and a manually adiustable cut thickness selector having a cut thickness calibrated scale operative to adjust the movable position adjustin mem er.

-'7. In a planer having machine members including a cutter member and a work supporting table mounted for relative movement to vary cut thickness, predetermined cut thickness indicating means, actuating means operated by the movab e one of said machine members through out thickness varying movement thereof to effect actuation of said indicating means, manual adjusting means coactive with a planer cut thickness scale for changing actuation of the indicating means f om one to another predetermined cut thickness, and further manual means for simultaneously adjusting the movable one of said machine members and said actuating means to effect actuation of said indicating means upon the movable one of said machine members being brought to any out thickness conforming to the cut thickness setting of the scale.

8. In a planer having machine members including a cutter member and a work supporting table mounted for relative movement to vary cut thickness, predetermined cut thickness indicating means including an electric signal, an electric circuit for said signal including electric switch means, actuating means for said switch means, manually operated means coactive with a cut thickness indicating scale for efiecting movement of one of said switch and switch actuating means relative to and independently of the other of said means to selectively preset said means for a predetermined cut thickness, and further manual means for simultaneously adjusting the movable one of said machine members and the other of said switch and switch actuating means independently of and relative to said one of the switch and switch actuating means to effect actuation of said switch means upon the movable one of said machine members being brought to a cut thickness conforming to the cut thickness for which the switch and switch actuating means have been preset.

9. In a planer having machine members including a cutter member and a work supporting table mounted for relative movement to vary cut thickness, predetermined cut thickness indicating means, a movable member operated by the movable on of said machine members through cut thickness varying movement thereof, a second movable member positioned in the path of movement of said first movable member for engagement therewith to efiect actuation of said indicating means, manual means coactive with a cut thickness scale for effecting movement of said second movable member relative to but independently of said first movable member to selectively position said members for actuation of said indieating means at a predetermined cut thickness and further manual means for simultaneously adjusting the movable one of said machine members and said first movable member independently of and relative to said second movable member to effect actuation of said indicating means upon the movable one of said machine members being brought to any out thickness conforming to the cut thickness reading of the scale.

10. In a planer having machine members including a cutter member and a work supporting table mounted for relative movement to vary cut thickness, predetermined cut thickness indicating means including an electrically operated signal, an electric circuit for said signal including an electric switch for energizing said signal, a movable supporting member for said switch, means connecting said supporting member to the movable one of said machine members for movement thereby in its cut thickness varying movement, manual means for adjustably moving the movable one of said machine members, switch actuating means adapted to close said switch upon the movable one of said machine members being brought to a predetermined cut thickness, and manual adjusting means coactive with a planer cut thickness calibrated scale for changing actuation of said switch by said actuating means from one to another predetermined cut thickness.

11. In a planer according to claim 8, indicating mechanism including in addition to said predetermined cut thickness electric signal mechanism a coacting thickness indicating gauge operated by the movable machine member in its out thickness varying movement adapted to indicate progressive changes in cut thickness posi tion of said movable machine member.

JAMES S. BALLANTINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,443,166 Brown Jan. 23, 1923 2,161,273 Begun June 6, 1939 2,177,821 Dinzl Oct. 31, 1939 2,187,102 Schahmann Jan. 16, 1940 2,213,606 Meeker Sept. 3, 1940 2,217,509 Bryant Oct. 8, 1940 2,433,585 Warner 1 Dec. 20, 1947, 

